So, Jillian Michaels tells me that if I follow her workout routine, for 5 days a week, for 6 weeks....I will have "serious results" and possibly a 6 pack. I love Jillian (and really want to meet her, tell her about Jesus, and then be work out buddies) but I am just not so sure.
I also don't have 6 weeks. I only have 5 until we leave for Summer Project for the Dominican Republic. So, should I give it a shot? Put this little sucker to the test? I figure, I am not overweight, nor do I have ridiculously flabby abs, so I maybe it can happen for me in 5 weeks, if I will commit.
That's probably not true, but I am willing to put forth the effort.
So, for the next 5 weeks I will be updating the blog on how it's going. I will do the workout every morning at 7 AM, for 30 minutes. As Jillian reminds us in the video, I will also maintain my normal workout routine and somewhat good eating habits.
I think this will also be a great reminder to pray for Jillian, and dream of one day doing cardio with her in heaven after she falls in love with Jesus. (seriously, i pray for this ha)
Ok, here we go! Tomorrow it begins!
21.5.11
Recently with the McLaughlins
Wow. Friends, someone needs to help me remember where I left my mind when I moved to Denver. Apparently, I have lost it. I have been trying to access this blog for about a month now, desiring to post about our life & ministry, and hmm...Kayla cannot remember her password. Or which e-mail she uses for that matter.
Finally, I found it today ;) Both my login information, and my mind.
Denver sort of feels a bit like our home now. It's interesting how comfortable we can feel here in a short time, and even in the midst of traveling with little chance to build momentum in personal life, relationships, or ministry. Most of you know the past few months have been some wild ones. Yet, God has been so intimate with us. He in a lot of ways has been showing me my "roots" that He has been deepening in me my whole life. Austin said something to me yesterday that I should never forget. I was feeling a bit discouraged about my abilities to reach Latino students here in the city, and really my importance or place on a team, in our marriage, or just in life. (you know those moments?) I told Austin, "I feel called to something I am not 100% sure I am the most qualified for, even in my dependence on God for everything...I mean I wasn't called to love Latinos since I was 7 or anything...." Austin looked me dead in the eye and said
"Kayla, your God has been preparing you for this very moment since before you were born. Everything He has done in and for you has been preparing you for this time..."
For some reason it stuck. It really hit. I know I have been through these tapes many times before, but God whispered through Austin his unfading plan for my life that will not be thwarted and has always been set. It's fun now to see God showing me how He has been doing that in my life. What an exciting time of life when my eyes are being opened. He is so gracious. And my husband is such an ever-deepening blessing.
As for what we have been up to? Well...
We ended on campus the last week of April, as classes were coming to a close. We had a great week of connecting with students. I had 2 conversations specifically that excited me for the coming summer. Girls at Auraria are so eager for friendships and Jesus is eager to give them life in His name. Although Austin has had a more difficult time finding guys who are interested in discussing spiritual things, the few guys he has connected with are really great. One, a believer, is passionate about the Lord and looks forward to seeing his campus transformed with the Gospel.
The first week of May we had a week of planning with the greater Metro team of CRU. The Lord really met us there as we evaluated the year and looked ahead to what He would do next year. Austin is still relishing in how God continues to show us that He will move mightily through Destino. We took time this week to specifically plan for Destino, and established some great goals & vision for the coming year. We are SO EXCITED at the potential of having 2-3 staff members join us this fall with Destino!
Last week, we had the chance to visit friends at a wedding of one of my (kayla) best friends. We also spent a few days with family on the way home. Some of you may know, but my cousin had a brain tumor removed from his cerebellum a few weeks ago. As hard as it was to be so far away during the crisis of my family, we were so delighted to spend the day worshiping Jesus as He continues to heal Bay. He is doing great now. The doctors got all of it, and we are still waiting to hear back from Oncology. Please be praying for his recovery. If you could see him, you would want to "drink him in" (as my dad said) and be caused to worship God at the sound of his thanking God for not only his healing, but for the tumor itself. Bay has a special heart of trusting God for this to be a part of his story that will cause many to trust God as he does. ( the above picture is of my mom, Lynn, & my cousin, Bay)
WHEW....do you think I needed to blog a bit? Sorry this is so long. We love you all, and it will be sooner than later that you hear from us again.
Finally, I found it today ;) Both my login information, and my mind.
Denver sort of feels a bit like our home now. It's interesting how comfortable we can feel here in a short time, and even in the midst of traveling with little chance to build momentum in personal life, relationships, or ministry. Most of you know the past few months have been some wild ones. Yet, God has been so intimate with us. He in a lot of ways has been showing me my "roots" that He has been deepening in me my whole life. Austin said something to me yesterday that I should never forget. I was feeling a bit discouraged about my abilities to reach Latino students here in the city, and really my importance or place on a team, in our marriage, or just in life. (you know those moments?) I told Austin, "I feel called to something I am not 100% sure I am the most qualified for, even in my dependence on God for everything...I mean I wasn't called to love Latinos since I was 7 or anything...." Austin looked me dead in the eye and said
"Kayla, your God has been preparing you for this very moment since before you were born. Everything He has done in and for you has been preparing you for this time..."
For some reason it stuck. It really hit. I know I have been through these tapes many times before, but God whispered through Austin his unfading plan for my life that will not be thwarted and has always been set. It's fun now to see God showing me how He has been doing that in my life. What an exciting time of life when my eyes are being opened. He is so gracious. And my husband is such an ever-deepening blessing.
As for what we have been up to? Well...
 |
| Us at our first Rockies game. That's right. We sat SO STINKIN CLOSE. A faithful supporter of Denver CRU here in the city gave us free tickets! Thank you Lewan! |
We ended on campus the last week of April, as classes were coming to a close. We had a great week of connecting with students. I had 2 conversations specifically that excited me for the coming summer. Girls at Auraria are so eager for friendships and Jesus is eager to give them life in His name. Although Austin has had a more difficult time finding guys who are interested in discussing spiritual things, the few guys he has connected with are really great. One, a believer, is passionate about the Lord and looks forward to seeing his campus transformed with the Gospel.
The first week of May we had a week of planning with the greater Metro team of CRU. The Lord really met us there as we evaluated the year and looked ahead to what He would do next year. Austin is still relishing in how God continues to show us that He will move mightily through Destino. We took time this week to specifically plan for Destino, and established some great goals & vision for the coming year. We are SO EXCITED at the potential of having 2-3 staff members join us this fall with Destino!
WHEW....do you think I needed to blog a bit? Sorry this is so long. We love you all, and it will be sooner than later that you hear from us again.
6.4.11
What a Week!
A list from our life this week...
1. We moved into our new place! We now officially have a home, and we love it.
2. God is so sweet! Yesterday we met about 8 hispanic students on campus. Our hearts are bursting!
3. We are officially Colorado residents now, with CO car tags to prove it!
4. We learned that if we cannot live in a 1 bedroom with just the 2 of us- we have too much stuff.
5. 24 Hour Fitness can now call us members! And we got a sweet deal.
6. Austin learned how to thread a sewing machine. Kayla is currently learning how to make curtains. ;)
7.We went to a yoga class at the gym!
8. Kayla is still sore from yoga.
9. We met a few neighbors. Our housemate and his friend are AWESOME. We look forward to opening the leaf of our dining room table and inviting them over.
10. We found a church (we think!). A few things sold us: the teaching is rock solid, the church body is smaller, and mostly-the baby dedication. AMAZING. ;) Ask more if you are interested.
11. Our neighbor is a grad student in music at the campus we work on. He plays the guitar. It's nice to hear from the bathroom.
12. Ellie & Reid, two of our friends here, came over this past week for dinner. Our first house guests!
13. We learned that 52,000 seeds of grass is actually only about 11 cups. (wow!)
14. Biking to campus is great. It costs....0 dollars.
15. Austin got asked, and I quote, "Do you want to pimp?" on campus by a guy who walked up to him yesterday. hilarious. Kayla wishes she were there. Poor guy.
16. ALWAYS check reviews of movies before you watch them (or buy them for $1 at McKays)...anyone seen The Hours? So strange- so awkward at some points. That's what we get for knowing nothing about it.
17. Read Mark 11- Can you imagine what the disciples were thinking when Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem on the colt that was prophesied about for so many generations before? Jesus finally allowed them to SHOUT about the truth of who He is. They expected a King to come and free them from the rule of Rome. To lead them to salvation and destroy their enemies. Little did they know He would do that in quite the opposite way they were expecting. Instead, Jesus walks into the temple. He looks around. Causes no revolt like the people wanted. Again, Jesus does what only He could do. He walks in the temple later and stops all sacrificing, turning over tables. He plans to uproot their idea of the temple. They have made it the way to get to God. Instead, Jesus declares to His disciples soon after, "Have faith in God!" This is the famous verses that we love to craft into our own delight, "if you pray and believe, you can move mountains..." (you get the picture). They had their own agenda, their own understanding of "freedom" and destroying the enemy....Jesus came to show them that freedom could only be won in their hearts, and it was not done by pleasing God in the temple or overthrowing the current physical oppression.
Jesus is greater than the temple. He is their sacrifice. He tells them the temple is meant to be for prayer, not for buying your way into relationship. Jesus had the agenda of the Father. It was quite different than the people were expecting. He, the King they long awaited, was to die to save them from death. A King who died a common and terrible death. And who would rise and give life to those who "Have faith in God!"
Read these verses in a new light. We are praying that our agenda would be moved like mountains...and replaced with Jesus' agenda. It's quite better.
We love you all! Thanks for reading.
**if you are interested in more of Mark 11, we are studying at our church. Last weeks' talk was on that portion. You can go to parkchurchdenver.org to listen to the talk.
1. We moved into our new place! We now officially have a home, and we love it.
2. God is so sweet! Yesterday we met about 8 hispanic students on campus. Our hearts are bursting!
3. We are officially Colorado residents now, with CO car tags to prove it!
4. We learned that if we cannot live in a 1 bedroom with just the 2 of us- we have too much stuff.
5. 24 Hour Fitness can now call us members! And we got a sweet deal.
6. Austin learned how to thread a sewing machine. Kayla is currently learning how to make curtains. ;)
7.We went to a yoga class at the gym!
8. Kayla is still sore from yoga.
9. We met a few neighbors. Our housemate and his friend are AWESOME. We look forward to opening the leaf of our dining room table and inviting them over.
10. We found a church (we think!). A few things sold us: the teaching is rock solid, the church body is smaller, and mostly-the baby dedication. AMAZING. ;) Ask more if you are interested.
11. Our neighbor is a grad student in music at the campus we work on. He plays the guitar. It's nice to hear from the bathroom.
12. Ellie & Reid, two of our friends here, came over this past week for dinner. Our first house guests!
13. We learned that 52,000 seeds of grass is actually only about 11 cups. (wow!)
14. Biking to campus is great. It costs....0 dollars.
15. Austin got asked, and I quote, "Do you want to pimp?" on campus by a guy who walked up to him yesterday. hilarious. Kayla wishes she were there. Poor guy.
16. ALWAYS check reviews of movies before you watch them (or buy them for $1 at McKays)...anyone seen The Hours? So strange- so awkward at some points. That's what we get for knowing nothing about it.
17. Read Mark 11- Can you imagine what the disciples were thinking when Jesus comes riding into Jerusalem on the colt that was prophesied about for so many generations before? Jesus finally allowed them to SHOUT about the truth of who He is. They expected a King to come and free them from the rule of Rome. To lead them to salvation and destroy their enemies. Little did they know He would do that in quite the opposite way they were expecting. Instead, Jesus walks into the temple. He looks around. Causes no revolt like the people wanted. Again, Jesus does what only He could do. He walks in the temple later and stops all sacrificing, turning over tables. He plans to uproot their idea of the temple. They have made it the way to get to God. Instead, Jesus declares to His disciples soon after, "Have faith in God!" This is the famous verses that we love to craft into our own delight, "if you pray and believe, you can move mountains..." (you get the picture). They had their own agenda, their own understanding of "freedom" and destroying the enemy....Jesus came to show them that freedom could only be won in their hearts, and it was not done by pleasing God in the temple or overthrowing the current physical oppression.
Jesus is greater than the temple. He is their sacrifice. He tells them the temple is meant to be for prayer, not for buying your way into relationship. Jesus had the agenda of the Father. It was quite different than the people were expecting. He, the King they long awaited, was to die to save them from death. A King who died a common and terrible death. And who would rise and give life to those who "Have faith in God!"
Read these verses in a new light. We are praying that our agenda would be moved like mountains...and replaced with Jesus' agenda. It's quite better.
We love you all! Thanks for reading.
**if you are interested in more of Mark 11, we are studying at our church. Last weeks' talk was on that portion. You can go to parkchurchdenver.org to listen to the talk.
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